Solving the WiFi Problem on the New iPad

No matter how great the technology being developed, they can never be bug-free. There’s always something unexpected that goes wrong, causing the manufacturer to have to quickly problem-solve to keep their customers happy. Apple seems to have their share of these types of problems, whether they just have many problems, or whether theirs just become highlighted more because of the success of the products. As is expected, there are already a few major complaints with the new iPad. The one that seems to be the most problematic is the Wifi issue. This issue only pops up on the WiFi-only iPad, and not the WiFi + 4G models. People seem to have a varying degree of difficulty with this WiFi issue. Some have problems getting WiFi at all on their new iPad, some only have problems with certain networks, and some have their WiFi intermittently going out. There are rumors that Apple will replace your iPad if you’re having trouble with the WiFi, and there is also a rumor that they are currently working on a software fix for the problem. Previously I wrote on how to fix general WiFi issues with iOS devices. If you’ve tried those and are still having difficulty, here are more suggestions to get that WiFi to work while you wait for a software upgrade or for Apple to replace your new iPad.

Bu using the Settings app, click on WiFi, followed by the settings for the individual network that is giving you trouble. At the top of the screen, clicking on “Forget This Network” will remove it from the memory on your new iPad. Make sure, though, that you take note of the password for this network, as that will be erased when the network is removed from the memory. Signing in again with the network can sometimes result in a better connection.

Other than checking your settings with your router, you can also try turning it off and on. If this doesn’t work, you can turn off the Wireless Security. If you’re using an AirPort, you can do this with the AirPort Admin Utility, and if you’re using a different router, you can change this via the browser. Find the router address by going to the settings for that particular network. If the WiFi isn’t working at all on the iPad, you’ll have to do this on a separate computer or cell phone, wherever else you can access the WiFi.

Another setting that can be changed is “Ask to Join Networks.” In the Settings app, go to the WiFi settings, and underneath all the available networks is a slider for “Ask to Join Networks.” Slide that to off. The thought is that with that set to on, the iPad will constantly be searching for networks, possibly interfering with the network you’re already connected to and trying to use.

Another setting that has helped many other users is the Brightness setting. It doesn’t seem like it would help, but many have reported that it does. Using the Settings app again, click on “Brightness & Wallpaper” and make it brighter. Wait a few minutes and try checking your network again. For many, this improves the signal strength. Also in the Settings app, go to the General settings and change the option for Bluetooth to off. Sometimes not staying connected through Bluetooth can improve your signal strength.

While I don’t have WiFi issues with my new iPad, I suspect that I have seen it with others. While vacationing with my sister and brother-in-law recently, we stayed in a complex that advertised free WiFi. While the WiFi signal did go out intermittently for me, I was chalking it up to the router being in the main building. My sister consistently got a worse signal than me. We next stayed in a hotel that admittedly had a very odd WiFi setup, yet I had better and more options for WiFi than my sister had, and my brother-in-law didn’t have any of the options the two of us had. It didn’t make sense at all, but this WiFi issue with the new iPad could be behind it.

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One comment

Winnysays

I got WiFi problem with my New iPad. I have both Wifi and 4GLTE model, they are the same. I have to use them close to the access point to get a stable signal while the other devices can use WiFi. It’t a kind of low sensitivity problem. I never use cover or any cases. And I tested the WiFi signal since I bought it so it doesn’t software conflict.